The Chicago Cubs clinched a 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, thanks to Cody Bellinger's clutch solo homer in the sixth inning and Hayden Wesneski's stellar four innings of relief pitching. The win sealed the series for the Cubs, who emerged victorious in two out of the three fiercely contested games, including two nail-biting extra-inning clashes.
Wesneski, making his season debut after a late call-up from Triple-A Iowa, was the hero on the mound, securing the win with just one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised Wesneski's performance, calling it the team's best pitching display yet this season.
Despite a grueling travel schedule that saw him fly from Des Moines to Chicago and then to Phoenix on almost no sleep, Wesneski delivered a gem of a performance. He attributed his success to his focus on "filling up the zone" and not overthinking the game.
Bellinger's crucial homer off Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt shifted the momentum in favor of the Cubs, propelling them to a 3-2 lead. Pfaadt pitched seven innings, giving up three runs, including two earned. His efforts were commendable, especially after the bullpen was stretched thin from the previous extra-inning games in the series.
The Cubs further extended their lead with two more runs in the eighth inning, one of which came from a clutch RBI single by Michael Busch, who recently made headlines by tying a franchise record with homers in five consecutive games. Mike Tauchman also contributed to the Cubs' offensive onslaught with an RBI double.
On the Diamondbacks' side, Ketel Marte's leadoff homer gave his team an early 1-0 lead. Marte continued to be a thorn in the Cubs' side, following up his homer with a double and an RBI single that tied the game at 2-all. Joc Pederson's solo homer in the ninth inning narrowed the Cubs' lead to 5-3, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.
The game wasn't without its share of errors, with D-backs third baseman Eugenio Suarez committing two, including one that led to an unearned run. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the team's shortcomings, citing defensive miscues and missed offensive opportunities as areas for improvement.
Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks put in a solid performance, allowing two runs and five hits over 4 1/3 innings, with five strikeouts and a walk. Drew Smyly secured his first save of the season, closing out the game with the final two outs.
In roster moves, the Cubs called up RHP Colten Brewer and Wesneski, while sending LHP Luke Little and RHP Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa. The Diamondbacks called up RHP Justin Martinez and selected the contract of LHP Logan Allen, while sending RHP Luis Frias and LHP Tommy Henry to Triple-A Reno and transferring LHP Eduardo Rodriguez to the 60-day injured list due to a left shoulder strain.
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